“Wagetheft” is an employer’s taking of time from the employee and not appropropriately compensating the worker for that time. Wagetheft violations can include unpaid overtime, denial of rest breaks and meal periods, improper tip sharing, misclassification etc. Wagetheft disproportionately affects low-wage workers who have rights under Washington State Law and the mirroring Federal Labor Standards Act. However, many low-wage workers have unclear immigration status, do not speak English, or are otherwise afraid to complain to their employers. Tacoma’s leading effort to address wagetheft in our community is essential to addressing the needs of working local residents.